Labour... And not the political type!

[anonymum1991]

Hey all!

Hope you are having a lovely evening. I just wanted a little bit of advice if possible for those that have a Labour story. Unfortunately, my first DC birth was rather traumatic and I had no signs what-so-ever so I can't relate this pregnancy to anything. Hoping you lovely people may be able to help?

TMI - please don't read if squeamish. Apologies to be so vivid with description!
I'm 40+3 and yesterday I thought my fluids began to leak, they hadn't but they said my cervix was open. They didn't do an examination to see how many CM etc, however they did use a speculum and take some "fluid" via a thin swab. Was not invasive so I don't believe it would've caused any irritation imo.
Fast forward to this morning 2am, I'm sure I lost my "plug" as a big glob of DC but was not bloody, just slightly tinged. From around 12pm today, I've had light brown stringy DC (sorry!) but in rather small quantities. I've not had any other signs other than my boobs are feeling more swollen (unrelated perhaps?) and I have a bit more pressure/odd period type pain. Nothing that I can say is consistent.

What I wanted to ask is whether or not this sounds like my plug/cervix is dilating and if so, how long did it take until you started feeling contractions? Or does this sound completely unrelated to labour and I'm just getting my hopes up?

Thanks so much in advance :)

Anyone? X

Does sound like it could be your plug but I thought that could go in bits and pieces days before labour starts.

I'd just try and sleep well, keep active in the day and wait for contractions. Obviously any movement changes or if your water go then call the midwife.

Sounds like things could be moving along but labour is so unpredictable. First one, Im pretty sure it took a week from when I first started loosing my mucus plug. Got my hopes up at the beginning. Then my contractions started and lost more mucus plug and had my bloody show during that time. Water broke basically at 10cm.

Second one, absolutely not a single symptom at all. Absolutely nothing at all (I was getting so disheartened) until my waters broke randomly then everything happened in the first few hours.

I would recommend as much time on a birth ball if you have one and side- stepping up and down the stairs. I feel that helped me both times.

Hi lovely
I am not trying to scare you but please keep an eye on the fluid. I thought I had a sudden small leak of fluid only a tiny amount, I was told not to come
in but keep a pad on and monitor which I did and no more came out. 2 days later I was in for a sweep and the midwife swabbed me and told my hind waters had gone. I had to have my waters broken on that day due to it being over 24 hours (as I was already 3cm) had a very traumatic birth, 3 day hospital stay and antibiotics through a cannula so please please please if you think you leak again go and be checked xx

That does sound like your plug. I lost mine in the morning and delivered just before midnight the same day. I laboured all day while shopping and watching a movie - wasn’t too bad in terms of contractions. Phoned hospital at teatime when they got closer together and painful. That’s just my experience